the dutch Dylan Groenewegen scored his first win in the BikeExchange jersey by winning a powerful sprint on stage three of the Tour of Saudi Arabia disputed between Tayma Hadaj Well and Alula Old Town, 181 km long, in which Colombian Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) kept the leader’s green jersey.
Groenewegen (Amsterdam, 28 years old), He did not give his rivals a choice with a display of strength on the finish line that allowed him to raise his arms with authority, setting a time of 5:11:24, at an average of 34.9 km/hour.
The former sprinter of the Jumbo Visma He clearly beat the British Daniel MClay (Arkea) and the Australian Caleb Ewan (Lotto Soudal), with Colombian Fernando Gaviria (UAE Emirates) in sixth place. Santiago Buitrago, well protected by his team, kept the green jersey, with 3 seconds ahead of Ewan and 17 seconds ahead of Belgian Lotto Soudal Maxim Van Gils.
A day of fans and sand in the wind that produced a strong initial fight. The cuts in the platoon were numerous, although none led to victory for its protagonists. Three of them, the Belgians Edward Planckaert and Benjamin Declercq and the Frenchman Anthony Turgis formed the most outstanding adventure.
The Frenchman was the strongest and bravest, since more than 70 km from the finish line he was encouraged to leave alone. With more than 5 minutes of advantage Turgis dreamed of the impossible, despite the wind, often head-on, which caused sandstorms.
The script was written, and Turgis was neutralized 14 minutes from goal. As if the difficulties of the company were not enough, the final stretch of 40 km to the finish line located in the old city of Alula, on the legendary incense trade route, marked a descending profile that allowed the main group to fly, where the men of the Lotto Soudal were thinking of getting the green jersey back for Caleb Ewan.
The fight for the lead animated the outcome. Bahrain did not want to abandon the leadership of Colombian Santiago Buitrago, the winner the day before, and In addition, the Quick Step and his “wolf pack” made it clear with 20 km to go that he aspired to the stage for Bagioli.
The Belgian squad took command with a view to the final outcome. The pace of the walk is over to make way for the game of arrival strategies. The Quick Step attacked en bloc from a distance to test the personnel, but there was a response from the platoon, with the leader Buitrago in front. A false alarm that served to reduce the group of applicants.
At 2.5 Ballerini jumped hard, but Ewan scored from some distance. Lotto thought they had the situation under control, but BikeExchange had the winning card up its sleeve. Groenewegen, well driven by a teammate, finished off the job with authority. It was his first victory of the season, the premiere with the jersey of his new squad.
This Friday the Saudi round continues with the fourth stage that will take place between Winter Park and Skyviews of Harrat Uwayrid, with a route of 149.3 km. A climb of 2.9 km at 12 percent on average with 9 km to go will be the great attraction of the day, and perhaps decisive for the general classification.